Charlie Dent

They're voting for Trump because they so much dislike where the Democrats are on many policy issues. So I think that's really where we need leadership in the party to present a counter-narrative quite often. You hear the MAGA narrative, and where I've been critical of some of my former congressional Republican colleagues is they've been too quiet.

You cannot counter that MAGA narrative with silence. Silence is silence. If there's nothing narrative to counter MAGA's argument, well, then MAGA's going to win every single time. But I think because of this trade war, there's a tremendous opening for a lot of Republicans to counter.

You cannot counter that MAGA narrative with silence. Silence is silence. If there's nothing narrative to counter MAGA's argument, well, then MAGA's going to win every single time. But I think because of this trade war, there's a tremendous opening for a lot of Republicans to counter.

You cannot counter that MAGA narrative with silence. Silence is silence. If there's nothing narrative to counter MAGA's argument, well, then MAGA's going to win every single time. But I think because of this trade war, there's a tremendous opening for a lot of Republicans to counter.

And remember, too, Donald Trump's not ever going to be on the ballot again, at least not legally or constitutionally. He's not going to be on the ballot again. And so he's a lame duck president. And Republicans will be up in 2026. And many of them are going to need separation from Donald Trump. And now is the time to start making arguments.

And remember, too, Donald Trump's not ever going to be on the ballot again, at least not legally or constitutionally. He's not going to be on the ballot again. And so he's a lame duck president. And Republicans will be up in 2026. And many of them are going to need separation from Donald Trump. And now is the time to start making arguments.

And remember, too, Donald Trump's not ever going to be on the ballot again, at least not legally or constitutionally. He's not going to be on the ballot again. And so he's a lame duck president. And Republicans will be up in 2026. And many of them are going to need separation from Donald Trump. And now is the time to start making arguments.

about how they are different than the president, particularly those who are in those marginal and swing districts who hope to survive. They're not going to be able to run simply embracing Donald Trump, whose approval rating is what, around 40 now, low 40s? That's not a way you're going to win an election. So I think there's an opportunity now for Republicans to start speaking up.

about how they are different than the president, particularly those who are in those marginal and swing districts who hope to survive. They're not going to be able to run simply embracing Donald Trump, whose approval rating is what, around 40 now, low 40s? That's not a way you're going to win an election. So I think there's an opportunity now for Republicans to start speaking up.

about how they are different than the president, particularly those who are in those marginal and swing districts who hope to survive. They're not going to be able to run simply embracing Donald Trump, whose approval rating is what, around 40 now, low 40s? That's not a way you're going to win an election. So I think there's an opportunity now for Republicans to start speaking up.

Well, remember what happened during Trump won on, let's take the Medicaid issue. And at that point, reconciliation was being used to repeal and replace Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act. And I was one of the folks who rang the bell on the Medicaid issue at the time because you remember what the debate was then.

Well, remember what happened during Trump won on, let's take the Medicaid issue. And at that point, reconciliation was being used to repeal and replace Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act. And I was one of the folks who rang the bell on the Medicaid issue at the time because you remember what the debate was then.

Well, remember what happened during Trump won on, let's take the Medicaid issue. And at that point, reconciliation was being used to repeal and replace Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act. And I was one of the folks who rang the bell on the Medicaid issue at the time because you remember what the debate was then.

Many states like mine had expanded Medicaid and that it was basically we would have ended up dumping all sorts of millions of people back onto the market with an insufficient tax credit. They would have lost coverage. And I just said, this is not acceptable. And I was making arguments on behalf of various Republican governors.

Many states like mine had expanded Medicaid and that it was basically we would have ended up dumping all sorts of millions of people back onto the market with an insufficient tax credit. They would have lost coverage. And I just said, this is not acceptable. And I was making arguments on behalf of various Republican governors.

Many states like mine had expanded Medicaid and that it was basically we would have ended up dumping all sorts of millions of people back onto the market with an insufficient tax credit. They would have lost coverage. And I just said, this is not acceptable. And I was making arguments on behalf of various Republican governors.

four of whom asked me to present Donald Trump with a letter about this issue, which I did directly. And what was that like? Well, I had two meetings with him, actually, one in the Oval Office where I gave him the letter. He was respectful. He listened. And I told him my concerns with the bill. And that meeting ended fine. That was on Tuesday.

four of whom asked me to present Donald Trump with a letter about this issue, which I did directly. And what was that like? Well, I had two meetings with him, actually, one in the Oval Office where I gave him the letter. He was respectful. He listened. And I told him my concerns with the bill. And that meeting ended fine. That was on Tuesday.

four of whom asked me to present Donald Trump with a letter about this issue, which I did directly. And what was that like? Well, I had two meetings with him, actually, one in the Oval Office where I gave him the letter. He was respectful. He listened. And I told him my concerns with the bill. And that meeting ended fine. That was on Tuesday.

Thursday, I got invited back and it was a smackdown meeting. You know why? You know, basically in front of a whole bunch of people. I told him I wouldn't vote for the bill and I was against it. And he was, you know, he took it well the first time. It was the second and third time he went crazy and told me I was going to destroy the Republican Party.